WGFD
Conserving Wildlife, Serving People
Cheyenne Office
5400 Bishop Blvd
Cheyenne, WY 82006
Phone: (307) 777-4600 ▪ Fax: (307) 777-4610
wgfd.wyo.gov
News Release
Oct. 27, 2014
Contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540
[email protected]
For Immediate Release:
Wyoming Waterfowl Hunting Looking Good for 2014 ................................................................ . 1
Mercury Related Guidelines Updated for Eating Fish .................................................................... . 2
Hunt Area 160 Now Positive for CWD ......................................................................................... . 3
Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Open for Hunting ................................................. . 3
Game and Fish Calendar .................................................................................................................. 4
Ask Game and Fish .......................................................................................................................... 4
WYOMING WATERFOWL HUNTING LOOKING GOOD FOR 2014
CASPER – Duck numbers are up this year by an average of eight percent in key waterfowl nesting areas and goose numbers
are about the same as last year which should mean good opportunities in the coming months for Wyoming waterfowl hunters.
Game and Fish Waterfowl Biologist Larry Roberts said counts indicate that numbers are up for Wyoming’s most
popular duck species. The increase from 2013 to this year includes a five-percent bump for mallards, 18-percent increase for
widgeon, 14 percent for gadwall and more than 10 percent for teal in the traditional nesting areas of Alberta, Montana and the
western Dakotas.
“The good water year Wyoming experienced in 2014 in most of the state was also good for resident duck and goose
production,” Roberts said. “We did get some cold wet weather during the key nesting period this year, but many of the birds
re-nested and we still had good production. In addition to an increase in water in ponds and marsh areas, the good moisture
conditions provided improved cover, which was very beneficial to nesting birds.”
Goose hunters should also see good hunting opportunities this year. According to Roberts, goose production is about
the same as last year. “There are lots of young birds which is good for hunters,” Roberts said. “Our resident goose production
is about average, but there should be good numbers of geese around both for early hunters and later on when the northern
marshes freeze up.”
Ice-up in the northern marshes in Canada, the Dakotas and Montana, is still some time away, but resident birds, as
well as early migrants like teal, should provide decent hunting opportunities for Wyoming hunters.
“It is difficult to predict the weather a month in advance,” Roberts said. “But the icy water conditions and snows
that typically occur in Canada and Montana in November will eventually push the birds our way.”
Another plus of the good water year is that both resident birds and migrating birds are likely to stay in Wyoming
longer. Birds tend to stay in Wyoming as long as the state has an abundance of open reservoirs and ponds.
This year the added moisture in the state and improved habitat conditions are giving Wyoming a better chance of
keeping resident birds longer and holding migrant birds. “But, the importance of the weather cannot be overlooked,” Roberts
said. “The ideal situation for us would be harsh weather and an early freeze-up in the states to the north and Canada and
more mild conditions here that would keep the birds in the state once they enter Wyoming.”
In general, the birds are distributed quite well across the state around waterways. Wyoming’s most popular
waterfowl hunting areas are the Bighorn Basin and Goshen County. Both are expected to be good again this year.
Seasons vary depending on the flyway and zone, but most hunts for ducks and geese run into early to mid January.
Hunters are advised to check the waterfowl regulations for seasons and bag limits for the different zones and the various
species they will be hunting. Complete waterfowl regulations are available at Game and Fish license agents and on the Game
and Fish website http://wgfd.wyo.gov.
(Contact: Al Langston 307-777-4540)
-WGFD-
MERCURY-RELATED GUIDELINES UPDATED FOR EATING FISH
CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently updated advice
for residents to consider prior to consuming fish, including those caught in state waters. Consumption advice is updated as
new information is collected on elevated mercury levels in some fish.
Game and Fish Assistant Fisheries Management Coordinator Mark Smith says the two departments plan to continue
to update the fish consumption advisory for Wyoming caught fish as new data is obtained and analyzed. “The consumption
advisory for Wyoming caught fish is provided to help anglers make the best consumption choices for them and their
families,” he said.
Smith added it is important to remember that while some larger fish in some waters may contain mercury at levels
that warrant reduced consumption for some people, fish are an important part of a healthy diet containing high quality protein
and other essential nutrients.
It has been found that mercury contamination usually increases as fish get larger and older. “As a general rule, it is
better to keep smaller fish for eating,” Smith said. “In most cases mercury levels in species such as Wyoming caught trout are
relatively low while species that prey primarily on other fish, such as walleye, sauger, burbot and bass tend to have higher
levels.”
Smith noted mercury advisories are nothing new as federal and state agencies have issued them for many years.
New waters added to the mercury guidelines for fish consumption include: Green River from Fontenelle Dam to
Flaming Gorge, Jim Bridger Pond, Muddy Guard Reservoir No.2, Tie Hack and Wardell Reservoirs and the Sweetwater, Salt
and South Tongue rivers. The majority of additions to the advisory this year are for larger brown trout in the aforementioned
rivers, as well as burbot in the Green River and Jim Bridger Pond, brown trout in Muddy Guard No.2 and walleye in Wardell
Reservoir.
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A complete listing of waters with mercury related guidelines for fish consumption can be found on the Game and
Fish website at: http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/fishing-1001093.aspx. An advisory on fish consumption can also be found on
page 12 in the newest fishing regulations booklet.
(Contact: Mark Smith 307-777-4560 or Kim Deti 307-777-6420)
-WGFD-
DEER HUNT AREA 160 NOW POSITIVE FOR CWD
LANDER – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has discovered chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological
disease of deer, elk and moose, in a deer from hunt area 160 in Fremont County. The Game and Fish Wildlife Disease
Laboratory in Laramie confirmed a yearling mule deer buck as CWD positive. The animal was harvested by a hunter on Oct.
18 southeast of Lander.
“The new CWD positive cases we have documented in the Lander Region this year are likely due to our increased
surveillance and the fact that all of these areas are adjacent to or surrounded by other areas where CWD had already been
documented,” said Jason Hunter, Lander Region wildlife supervisor. “We appreciate the help of the public in our increased
surveillance effort.”
The Game and Fish will continue to collect CWD samples through hunter field checks and sampling stations.
Hunters who wish to have their deer, elk or moose tested for CWD outside of the department’s CWD surveillance program
can to do so by contacting the Wyoming State Veterinary Lab at (307) 766-9925. While CWD surveillance helps the Game
and Fish monitor the disease, it also enables hunters to determine whether their harvested animal has CWD. Hunters should
be aware that it may take a few weeks after their animal is sampled to get their test results.
For more information on chronic wasting disease transmission and regulations on transportation and disposal of
carcasses please visit the Game and Fish website at: http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/wildlife-1000284.aspx.
(Contact:Rene Shell 307-332-2688)
-WGFD-
COKEVILLE MEADOWS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE OPEN FOR ITS FIRST HUNTING SEASON
COKEVILLE – Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, a 6,455 acre refuge located south of the town of Cokeville, is
open for the first time to hunting this fall. Big game, small game and waterfowl hunting in accordance with refuge special
regulations and Wyoming Game and Fish Department laws and regulations is now permitted on certain areas of the refuge.
Two small areas are closed to all hunting for safety reasons near the headquarters and around the public walking trail.
Most of the southern portions of the refuge are closed to migratory bird hunting, to provide resting and feeding areas for
migrating birds. However, those portions are open to big and small game hunting.
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The northern and western tracts are open to waterfowl as well as big and small game hunting. Access is limited to
walk-in from seven designated parking areas across the refuge. Visit www.fws.gov/refuge/cokeville_meadows for more
information and a copy of the hunting map and regulations.
The refuge asks that hunters respect our neighbor's private property rights and abide by federal and state regulations.
Special refuge regulations are necessary to protect wildlife and habitat as well as provide a safe experience for hunters and
refuge staff.
(Contact: Katie Theule 307-413-8157)
-WGFD-
Game and Fish Calendar
Nov. 1 – Pheasant season opens in all hunt areas
Nov. 1 – Deer seasons open for Black Hills hunt areas 1-6 for resident general and non-resident Region A licenses
Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 (Sundays in November) – Youth days at Glendo Special Pheasant Hunt
Nov. 3 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Torrington, Platte County Bank, 6 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Cheyenne, WGFD Headquarters, 6 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Green River WGFD office, 6 p.m.
Nov. 4 -- Public meeting on Gray Wolf Management Plan addendum, Lander WGFD office, 6 p.m.
Nov. 5 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Wheatland, Platte County Library 6 p.m.
Nov. 6 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Laramie WGFD office, 6 p.m.
Nov. 11 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Jackson WGFD office, 6 p.m.
Nov. 12 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Cody, Bighorn Federal Bank, 6 p.m.
Nov. 13 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Lovell Fire Hall, 6 p.m.
Nov. 15 – Youth pheasant hunts at Sand Mesa and Yellowtail Wildlife habitat management areas
Nov. 18 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Thayne Town Hall, 6 p.m.
Nov. 18 – Public meeting on Game and Fish bird farms, Pinedale WGFD office, 6 p.m.
Ask Game and Fish
Q. Can I carry a loaded rifle on an ATV while hunting?
A. There are no Game and Fish regulations prohibiting carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle. However, to be on the safe side
Game and Fish strongly recommends hunters unload their firearms and keep the action open before placing a firearm in any
type of vehicle, including ATVs.
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